Front grill impact-absorbing structure for a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A front grill impact-absorbing structure has a load-transmitting member ( 90 ) which retreats together with a front grill ( 30 ) when a collision force (F 1 ) acts on the front grill from the front. By the load-transmitting member retreating together with the front grill, the collision force is transmitted to a water-cooled engine radiator ( 20 ) inside an engine compartment ( 11 ). In the initial state of the collision, the radiator absorbs the collision force and moderates the collision force.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to the construction of a front part of avehicle, and particularly to a front grill impact-absorbing structureand an upper mounting structure for a radiator of a water-cooled engine.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002]FIG. 12 is a side view of a front part of a vehicle of relatedart, and shows a front grill 102 covering the front of an enginecompartment 101 provided at the front of a vehicle 100, and awater-cooled engine radiator 103 housed in the engine compartment 101 inthe rear of the front grill 102.

[0003] The water-cooled engine radiator 103 has a lower part 103 aattached to a lower front part 105 a of a vehicle body frame 105 and anupper part 103 b attached by a stay 104 to an upper front part 105 b ofthe vehicle body frame 105. 106 is a hood.

[0004] When a collision force F10 acts on the front grill 102 from thefront, the front grill 102 deforms in correspondence with the collisionforce F10; that is, it retreats. By the retreating front grill 102striking the radiator 103, the collision force F10 is transmitted to theradiator 103. And by the radiator 103 deforming and tilting rearwardunder the collision force F10, the collision force F10 can to someextent be absorbed.

[0005] Now, the distance L10 from the front grill 102 to the radiator103 is set so that a travel motion draft taken in through the frontgrill 102 can be guided smoothly to the radiator 103. Accordingly, thereis a limit to how small the distance L10 can be made.

[0006] On the other hand, for the collision force F10 to be absorbed bythe radiator 103 more swiftly and more fully, it is desirable that thecollision force F10 be transmitted to the radiator 103 in the initialstage of the front grill 102 retreating under the collision force F10.This is because in this initial stage the collision force F10 isrelatively small, and consequently it is possible to protect the variousdevices inside the engine compartment 101 and also moderate the impacton the obstruction.

[0007] The various housed members such as the radiator 103 housed in theengine compartment 101 are disposed like this in positions where theirrespective capabilities can be secured. With respect to this, thedisposition and shape and size of the front grill 102 are decided withmatters such as the design of the vehicle 100 overall also beingconsidered. Consequently, there is a limit to how small it is possibleto make the distance L10 between the front grill 102 and the varioushoused members.

[0008] Accordingly, there is a need for technology by which, when acollision force acts from the front on the front grill, it is possibleto absorb the collision force more swiftly and more fully.

[0009] Next, a mounting structure of a radiator of a water-cooled engineof related art will be explained.

[0010] Generally, a water-cooled engine radiator disposed at the frontof a vehicle is removably mounted to a vehicle body frame. Amountingstructure of a water-cooled engine radiator of this kind will now bedescribed on the basis of FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B.

[0011]FIG. 13A shows a lower part 201 of a radiator 200 for awater-cooled engine attached to a front-lower part 211 of a vehicle bodyframe 210, and an upper part 202 of the radiator 200 attached by way ofa stay 203 to a front-upper part 212 of the vehicle body frame 210.

[0012] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 13B, a mounting structure forthe upper part of the radiator has a stay 203 extending rearward fromthe top face of the radiator 200 and the its end attached to thefront-upper part 212 of the vehicle body frame 210 by a bolt 213. Bymeans of the stay 203 it is possible to suppress vertical movement ofthe radiator 200 and prevent leaning. To enable it to suppress verticalmovement of the radiator 200, the stay 203 is a member with a relativelylarge bending rigidity, provided with multiple vertical ribs 204.

[0013] However, in the related art technology described above, becausethe upper face of the radiator 200 is just supported by the stay 203,there is room for improvement in the degree to which vertical movementof the radiator 200 is suppressed at times such as when the vehicle istraveling on a rough road.

[0014] And, when a collision force F10 acts on the front grill 220 fromthe front, as shown in FIG. 13A, the front grill 220 retreats andstrikes the radiator 200, as shown with broken lines in FIG. 13A. As aresult, the collision force F10 acts on the stay 203 by way of theradiator 200. And because the stay 203 has a high rigidity, as mentionedabove, it can withstand even a large collision force F10. Consequently,the collision force F10 cannot be expected that much to be absorbed bythe radiator 200.

[0015] For this reason, technology has been wanted by which verticalmovement of a water-cooled engine radiator can be suppressed and bywhich also, when a collision force acts on a water-cooled engineradiator from the front, the collision force can be fully absorbed.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention provides a front grill impact-absorbingstructure for a vehicle, characterized in that it has a front grillcovering the front of an engine compartment forming the front part ofthe vehicle; a load-transmitting member provided on the rear side of thefront grill which, when a collision force acts on the front grill fromthe front, retreats together with the front grill; and a housed member,such as a radiator of a water-cooled engine, housed in the enginecompartment, and by a collision force acting on the front grill beingtransmitted to the housed member by the load-transmitting member, thecollision force is caused to be absorbed by the housed member.

[0017] When a collision force acts from the front on the front grill,the front grill retreats in correspondence with the collision force. Andby the load-transmitting member retreating together with the frontgrill, the collision force can be transmitted to the housed memberhoused in the engine compartment. In this way, the collision force canbe transmitted to the housed member by way of the load-transmittingmember in the initial stage of the front grill retreating under thecollision force. As a result, the collision force can be absorbed andmoderated more swiftly and more fully by the housed member.

[0018] Also, the invention provides an upper mounting structure for aradiator of a water-cooled engine characterized in that it has a vehiclebody frame; a water-cooled engine radiator disposed at the front of thevehicle body frame; a first stay extending rearward from the top of thewater-cooled engine radiator and having its end attached to afront-upper part of the vehicle body frame; and a second stay extendingfrom the top of the water-cooled engine radiator down the side thereofand having its end attached to a front side part of the vehicle bodyframe swingably in the front-rear direction, and the first stay has aweak part which can be deformed when a collision force acts on the firststay from the front by way of the water-cooled engine radiator.

[0019] Because the top of the radiator is supported by both a first stayextending rearward from the top of the radiator and a second stayextending from the top of the radiator down the side, vertical movementof the radiator at times such as when travelling on a rough road can bebetter suppressed. Also, when a collision force acts from the front onthe first and second stays by way of the water-cooled engine radiator,the weak part of the first stay can deform and the second stay candisplace rearward by swinging. Consequently, it is easy for the radiatorto tilt rearward under the collision force. And by tilting rearward, theradiator can fully absorb and moderate the collision force.

[0020] In the radiator mounting structure of the present invention, thefirst stay and the second stay are preferably a single pressing,substantially L-shaped in plan view, in which they are formed integrallywith each other. When the first stay and the second stay are made asingle pressing like this, the number of stay parts is reduced and theycan be made cheap. Also, because the first stay extending rearward fromthe top of the radiator and the second stay extending from the top ofthe radiator down the side are made a single pressing substantiallyL-shaped in plan view in which they are formed integrally with eachother, vertical movement of the radiator can be transmitted moresmoothly to the first stay and the second stay. Consequently, theradiator can be supported more stably. Furthermore, a collision forcefrom the front can be transmitted more smoothly from the radiator toboth the first stay and the second stay.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a front grill of avehicle according to the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a radiator mounted to avehicle body frame.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the upper part of awater-cooled engine radiator mounted by way of stays to a vehicle bodyframe and side stays.

[0024]FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are a plan view and a side view of theradiator upper mounting structure shown in FIG. 3.

[0025]FIG. 5 is a front view of the vicinity of a front grill pertainingto the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

[0027]FIG. 7 is a rear side perspective view of the front grill.

[0028]FIG. 8 is a rear side view of a load-transmitting member shown inFIG. 7.

[0029]FIG. 9 is a view showing an obstruction colliding with the frontgrill.

[0030]FIG. 10 is a view showing a relationship between a front grill anda radiator at the time of a collision in the case of a front grillimpact-absorbing structure according to the invention.

[0031]FIG. 11 is a view showing movement of a radiator and a stay at thetime of a collision in the case of a water-cooled engine radiator uppermounting structure according to the invention.

[0032]FIG. 12 is an outline view of the front part of a vehicle ofrelated art.

[0033]FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B are outline views showing a water-cooledengine radiator mounting structure of related art.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0034]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a front grill of avehicle according to the present invention, and is a view, seen from thefront, of a construction wherein an engine compartment 11 is provided atthe front of a vehicle 10; a water-cooled engine radiator 20(hereinafter simply called “the radiator 20”) is disposed at the frontof the engine compartment 11 and centrally in the vehicle widthdirection; and the front of the engine compartment 11 is covered by afront grill 30 made of resin. The radiator 20 takes in from the frontthrough the front grill 30 a travel motion draft Ai created when thevehicle 10 is traveling.

[0035]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a construction whereby a radiatoris mounted to a vehicle body frame according to the present invention,and is a view, seen from the front, of a construction wherein a frontbulkhead 41 is provided at the front of a vehicle body frame 40 and aradiator 20 is mounted to the front bulkhead 41. In this way, it ispossible to dispose the radiator 20 at the front of the vehicle bodyframe 40.

[0036] The front bulkhead 41 is a front member of the vehicle body frame40, made up of an upper cross member 42 extending in the vehicle widthdirection at the front-top, a lower cross member 43 extending in thevehicle width direction at the front-bottom, and left and right sidestays 44, 44 running between the upper and lower cross members 42, 43.

[0037] Explaining now the radiator mounting structure, the lower part 21of the radiator 20 is mounted to the lower cross member 43 (thefront-bottom of the vehicle body frame 40) by way of left and rightrubber mounts 22, 22. And, the left and right ends of the top part 23 ofthe radiator 20 are mounted to the upper cross member 42 (the front-topof the vehicle body frame 40) and to the left and right side stays 44,44 (the front-side parts of the vehicle body frame 40) by left and rightstays 50, 50.

[0038] Next, the mounting structure of the left side of the top part 23of the radiator 20 will be described in detail. Because the mountingstructure of the right side is left-right symmetrical with the mountingstructure of the left side and otherwise has the same construction, itsdescription will be omitted.

[0039]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a water-cooled engine radiatorupper mounting structure according to the invention, and shows the leftside of the top part 23 of the radiator 20 mounted to the vehicle bodyframe 40 by way of a stay 50.

[0040] The stay 50 is a pressed single molding made of steel,substantially L-shaped in plan view, wherein a first stay 60 and asecond stay 70 are formed integrally with each other.

[0041] The first stay 60 is a support member extending rearward from thetop part 23 of the radiator 20 and having its end part 64 attached tothe upper cross member 42 (the front-top of the vehicle body frame 40).The second stay 70 is a supporting member extending from the top part 23of the radiator 20 down the side thereof and having its end part 74attached to a forwardly extending extension part 45 (a front-side partof the vehicle body frame 40) of the side stay 44, swingably in thefront-rear direction.

[0042]FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show the upper mounting state of awater-cooled engine radiator seen from above and from the side.

[0043] The mounting structure of the stay 50 to the radiator 20 is onein which a support pin 25 extends from the upper face 24 of the radiator20 and a base part 51 of the stay 50, that is, each of base parts 62, 72of the first and second stays 60, 70, is attached to the support pin 25with a rubber mount 26 therebetween by being fitted thereto from above.

[0044] The first stay 60 is an upwardly open U-shaped sectional bodyhaving ribs 61, 61 formed by bending upward both edges running in thefront-rear direction, and is a member having an extension part 63extending rearward and upward from a horizontal base part 62 and ahorizontal end part 64 provided at the rear end of the extension part63. This end part 64 is superposed on the upper cross member 42 andfastened vertically with a bolt 65.

[0045] This first stay 60 has the characterizing feature that it isprovided with a weak part 66 capable of deforming (capable of bending)when a collision force acts from the front on the first stay 60 by wayof the radiator 20. The weak part 66 is a part of the extension part 63where its width has been narrowed, as shown in FIG. 4A, and is weakerthan the other parts.

[0046] The second stay 70 is an outwardly open U-shaped sectional bodyhaving ribs 71, 71 formed by bending outward both edges running in thesideward direction, and is a member having an extension part 73extending down the side of the radiator 20 from a horizontal base part72 and an end part 74 provided at the lower end of the extension part73. This end part 74 is superposed on an outer side face of theextension part 45 of the side stay 44 and fixed with a bolt 75. Also thesecond stay 70 has slits 76, 76 which pass vertically through the cornerpart between the horizontal base part 72 and the extension part 73.

[0047]FIG. 5 is a front view of the vicinity of a front grill accordingto the present invention, and shows four draft-guiding openings 31provided in the right half side of this front grill 30, that is, theleft side in the figure; two upper/lower draft-guiding openings 31, 31provided in a vehicle width center CL position; and two draft-guidingopenings 31, 31 provided in the left lower half side, that is, in thelower half of the right side of the figure. No draft-guiding openingsare provided in the left upper part of the front grill 30 and it isblocked, and an intake opening 32 of an engine intake duct is disposedat this blocked part.

[0048]FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 in FIG. 5, and showsthe vertical sectional structure around the front grill 30 at thevehicle width center.

[0049] This figure shows that in the engine compartment 11, an uppercover 81 extends forward from above an upper cross member 42, and theupper end of the front grill 30 is removably fitted to the front end ofthis upper cover 81. When the vehicle 10 is travelling, a travel motiondraft Ai taken in through the draft-guiding openings 31 in the frontgrill 30 is guided to the radiator 20. In the figure, 82 is a hood.

[0050]FIG. 7 is a perspective rear view of a front grill according tothe invention, and shows a load-transmitting member 90 mounted on therear face 33 of the front grill 30. The load-transmitting member 90 is amember which retreats together with the front grill 30 when a collisionforce acts from the front on the front grill 30.

[0051] More specifically, a central positioning projection 34 and leftand right mounting struts 35, 35 of the central positioning projection34 are formed integrally with the top of the rear face 33 of the frontgrill 30, centrally in the width direction of the vehicle. Theload-transmitting member 90 is mounted to the front grill 30 by afitting hole 91 in the load-transmitting member 90 being fitted over thecentral positioning projection 34 to position the load-transmittingmember 90, and screws 92, 92 being screwed into the mounting struts 35,35.

[0052]FIG. 8 is a rear view of the load-transmitting member 90 accordingto the invention, and shows the load-transmitting member 90 disposed onthe rear face 33 of the front grill 30, which is shown with brokenlines.

[0053] The load-transmitting member 90 is a steel press molding in whicha flat load-transmitting face 93 inclining forwardly downward andabutting parts 94, 94 extending forward from left and right ends of theload-transmitting face 93 and abutting with the rear face 33 of thefront grill 30 are formed integrally. 95, 95 are screw holes for thescrews 92, 92 (see FIG. 7).

[0054] Here the description will return temporarily to FIG. 6. Theload-transmitting face 93 of the load-transmitting member 90 is disposedin a position a distance L1 forward of the top of the front of theradiator 20. The distance L1 is for example about 10 mm.

[0055] Next, the operation of the construction described above will beexplained, on the basis of FIG. 3 and FIG. 9 through FIG. 11.

[0056] Because the top part 23 of the radiator 20 is supported by both afirst stay 60 extending rearward from the top part 23 of the radiator 20and a second stay 70 extending from the top part 23 of the radiator 20down the side, as shown in FIG. 3, vertical movement of the radiator 20at times such as during travel on a rough road can be suppressed.

[0057] Also, by making the first stay 60 and the second stay 70 a singlepressing, it is possible to reduce the number of parts of the stays 50and make them cheap.

[0058] Also, because the first stay 60 and the second stay 70 are made asingle pressing, substantially L-shaped in plan view, in which they areformed integrally with each other, vertical movement of the radiator 20can be more smoothly transmitted to the first and second stays 60 and70. Consequently, the radiator 20 can be supported more stably.

[0059]FIG. 9 is an action view of a vehicle according to the invention,and shows the vehicle 10 having collided with an obstruction S1 in frontof it and this obstruction S1 having struck the front grill 30. As aresult, a collision force F1 acts on the front grill 30 from the front.

[0060]FIG. 10 is an action view of a front grill impact-absorbingstructure for a vehicle according to the invention.

[0061] When a collision force F1 acts from the front on the front grill30, shown with broken lines, the front grill 30 deforms incorrespondence with the collision force F1; that is, it retreats, asshown with solid lines.

[0062] The distance L2 from the front grill 30 to the front of the upperend of the radiator 20 is set so that a travel motion draft taken inthrough the front grill 30 can be guided smoothly to the radiator 20.Consequently, there is a limit to how small the distance L2 can be made.

[0063] With respect to this, in the present invention, theload-transmitting face 93 of the load-transmitting member 90, shown withbroken lines, is disposed in a position a distance L1 forward of thefront of the upper end of the radiator 20. The position of theload-transmitting member 90 can be set relatively freely, because thereare no restrictions of the kind that there are on the positioning of thefront grill 30. The distance L1 is extremely small compared to thedistance L2, for example 10 mm.

[0064] The load-transmitting member 90, which retreats together with thefront grill 30, can abut with the front of the upper end of the radiator20 before the front grill 30 does. Consequently, as a result of theload-transmitting member 90 retreating together with the front grill 30,the collision force F1 can be transmitted to the radiator 20 housed inthe engine compartment 11.

[0065] In this way, the collision force F1 can be transmitted to theradiator 20 by way of the load-transmitting member 90 in the initialstage of the retreating of the front grill 30 under the collision forceF1.

[0066]FIG. 11 is an action view of a water-cooled engine radiator uppermounting structure for a vehicle according to the invention, and shows acollision force F1 acting on the radiator 20 as a result of theload-transmitting member 90 abutting with the front of the upper end ofthe radiator 20.

[0067] When a collision force F1 acts on the first and second stays 60,70 through the radiator 20, the low-rigidity weak part 66 of the firststay 60 deforms rearward in correspondence with the collision force F1.

[0068] The end part 74 of the second stay 70 is fixed to the extensionpart 45 with a bolt 75 extending in the vehicle width direction.Consequently, when a large load such as a collision force F1 acts on thesecond stay 70 from the front, a load tending to cause the second stay70 to swing rearward exceeds the surface pressure created by thebolt-fixing. As a result, the second stay 70 can displace by swingingrearward about the bolt 75.

[0069] In other words, this becomes possible as a result of the end part74 of the second stay 70 being front-rear swingably attached to thefront side part of the vehicle body frame 40 by means of a stay fixingpart (the bolt 75) extending in the vehicle width direction.

[0070] As is clear from the foregoing description, in the initial stageof the front grill 30 retreating under the collision force F1, thecollision force F1 is transmitted to the radiator 20 by way of theload-transmitting member 90. When the collision force F1 acts on thefirst and second stays 60, 70, as shown with solid lines, the weak part66 of the first stay 60 deforms rearward in correspondence with thecollision force F1 and the second stay 70 displaces by swingingrearward. Consequently, it is easy for the radiator 20 to tilt rearwardunder the collision force F1.

[0071] By tilting rearward and deforming in the initial stage of theretreating of the front grill 30, the radiator 20 can more swiftly andmore fully absorb and moderate the collision force F1. Consequently, thevarious devices inside the engine compartment 11 can be protected fromthe obstruction S1 (see FIG. 9), and the impact on the obstruction S1can also be moderated.

[0072] Also, because the first stay 60 and the second stay 70 are made asingle pressing, substantially L-shaped in plan view, in which they areformed integrally with each other, a collision force F1 from the frontcan be more smoothly transmitted from the radiator 20 to both the firststay 60 and the second stay 70.

[0073] The rigidity of the weak part 66 of the first stay 60 and thetightening torque of the bolt 75 for making the second stay 70 able toswing rearward should be set appropriately, taking into considerationthe collision force F1 that the radiator 20 can absorb.

[0074] In the embodiment described above, the weak part 66 provided inthe first stay 60 can be any construction which can deform when acollision force F1 acts from the front on the first stay 60 by way ofthe radiator 20, and may for example alternatively be a thin part, anarrow width, a cutaway or a waist or the like.

[0075] And, the construction by which the end part 74 of the second stay70 is mounted swingably to the front and rear to the front side part ofthe vehicle body frame 40 can be any such that the second stay 70 candisplace by swinging rearward when a collision force F1 acts from thefront on the first stay 60 by way of the radiator 20, and besides abolt-fixing it may alternatively be a pin joint.

[0076] Also, the housed member may be any member housed in the enginecompartment 11, and besides the water-cooled engine radiator 20 it mayalternatively be a capacitor for an air conditioner, the front bulkhead41 of the vehicle body frame 40 or a front bumper beam.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0077] Thus, with the present invention, by providing on the rear sideof a front grill a load-transmitting member which retreats together withthe front grill when a collision force acts from the front on the frontgrill, so that this load-transmitting member transmits the collisionforce acting on the front grill to a housed member such as awater-cooled engine radiator housed in an engine compartment, thishoused member can be made to absorb the collision force. Accordingly, itis possible to transmit the collision force to the housed member throughthe load-transmitting member in the initial stage of the front grillretreating. As a result, it is possible to absorb and moderate acollision force with a housed member more swiftly and more fully.

[0078] Also, with the present invention, because a first stay extendsrearward from the top part of a water-cooled engine radiator and has itsend part attached to a front-upper part of a vehicle body frame and asecond stay extends from the top of the water-cooled engine radiatordown the side thereof and has its end part attached to a front side partof the vehicle body frame, so that the top part of the radiator issupported by both the first stay and the second stay, it is possible tosuppress vertical movement of the radiator at times such as duringtravel on a rough road more.

[0079] And, with this invention, because a first stay extends rearwardfrom the top part of a water-cooled engine radiator and has its end partattached to a front-upper part of a vehicle body frame and a second stayextends from the top of the water-cooled engine radiator down the sidethereof and has its end part attached to a front side part of thevehicle body frame swingably to the front and rear and the first stay isprovided with a weak part which can deform when a collision force actson the first stay, when a collision force acts from the front on a firstand second stays by way of the water-cooled engine radiator, the weakpart of the first stay can deform and the second stay can displace byswinging rearward. Consequently, it is easy for the radiator to tiltrearward under a collision force. The radiator can fully absorb andmoderate the collision force by tilting rearward.

[0080] Also, with this invention, by making the first stay and thesecond stay a single pressing, it is possible to reduce the number ofparts of the stays and make them cheap. Also, because a first stayextending rearward from the top of the radiator and a second stayextending from the top of the radiator down the side are made a singlepressing, substantially L-shaped in plan view, in which they are formedintegrally with each other, it is possible to transmit vertical movementof the radiator to the first stay and the second stay more smoothly.Consequently, the radiator can be supported more stably. Furthermore, acollision force from the front can be transmitted more smoothly from theradiator by both the first stay and the second stay.

1. (cancelled)
 2. A water-cooled engine radiator upper mountingstructure for a vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body frame (40); awater-cooled engine radiator (20) disposed at a front part of thevehicle body frame; and a first stay (60) extending rearward from a toppart (23) of the water-cooled engine radiator and having its end part(64) attached to a front upper part of the vehicle body frame,characterized in that it further comprises a second stay (70) extendingfrom the top part of the water-cooled engine radiator down the sidethereof and having its end part (74) attached to a front side part (45)of the vehicle body frame swingably in a front-and-rear direction, andthat the first stay has a weak part (66) which, when a front-to-rearcollision force acts on the first stay through the radiator, deforms tothereby absorb the collision force.
 3. A water-cooled engine radiatorupper mounting structure for a vehicle, according to claim 2,characterized in that the first stay (60) and the second stay (70) are asingle pressing, substantially L-shaped in plain view, in which they areformed integrally with each other.
 4. A water-cooled engine radiatorupper mounting structure for a vehicle, according to claim 2, furthercomprising a load-transmitting member (90) provided on a rear side of afront grill (30) of the vehicle such that it transmits a collision forceacted on the front grill to the radiator (20).